1. |
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Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he,
When he wed the Virgin Mary,
In the land of Galilee.
Joseph and Mary walking
Through an orchard green
Where once, berries and cherries
As thick as might be seen
-----------------------------
Then bespoke young Mary,
With words so meek and mild,
“Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For I am with child.”
O Then bespoke Joseph
In a manner most unkind
“Let him pluck thee a cherry,
That brought thee (now) with child.”
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Then bespoke the baby
In his mother's womb,
“Bow down (low), the tallest tree,
Let my mother have some.”
Bowed down the tallest tree,
Into his mothers hand
And she cried, see Joseph,
I have cherries at command
-------------------
Then bespoke Joseph,
I have done Mary wrong,
But now cheer up my dearest
And do not be cast down.
Then Mary plucked a cherry
As red as any rose,
Then Mary, she went homewards
All with her heavy load.
----------------------
As Joseph was a walking,
he heard an angel sing,
This night there shall be born,
On earth, our heavenly king.
Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he,
When he wed the Virgin Mary,
In the land of Galilee.
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2. |
The Holly and the Ivy
01:52
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The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
2
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun, etc.
3
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good.
The rising of the sun, etc.
4
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun, etc.
5
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun, etc.
6
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun, etc.
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3. |
In the Bleak Midwinter
02:46
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In the bleak,
mid-winter,
Frosty wind,
made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart.
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4. |
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Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
———————————
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
——————————-
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
———————————
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise. Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
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5. |
The Wexford Carol
03:48
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Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born
The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town
But mark right well what came to pass
From every door repelled, alas
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox's stall
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angel did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Arise and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born
With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger he was laid
And by his side a virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife
There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet
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6. |
Pat-a-Pan
01:34
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Willie, bring your little drum
Robin bring your flute and come
We'll be joyous as you play
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
We'll be joyous as you play
On a Merry Christmas day!
When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise
They had pipes on which to play
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
They had drums on which to play
Full of joy on Christmas Day.
God and man this day become
Join us one with flute and drum
Let the happy tune play on
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
Flute and drum together play
As they sing on Christmas day
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7. |
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
02:21
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O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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8. |
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On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear what news those angels bring;
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our Saviour King's own birth
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from sin He set us free
All for to gain our liberty.
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore, Amen!"
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9. |
A Virgin Most Pure
04:27
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A virgin most pure, as the prophets do tell,
Hath brought forth a Baby, as it hath befell,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression has wrappèd us in.
Refrain
And therefore be merry, set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.
At Bethlehem city, in Jewry it was
Where Joseph and Mary together did pass,
And there to be taxed, with many one more,
For Cæsar commanded the same should be so.
Refrain
But, when they had entered the city so fair
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could get in the city no lodging at all.
Refrain
Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where oxen and asses they used to tie;
Their lodging so simple, they held it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Savior was born.
Refrain
The King of all glory to this world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was sought,
When Mary had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox manger she laid Him to sleep.
Refrain
Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Savior was born on this day.
Refrain
Then presently after, the shepherds did spy
A number of angels appear in the sky;
Who joyfully talkèd and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory, our heavenly King.
Refrain
Three certain wise princes, they thought it most meet
To lay their rich offerings at our Savior’s feet;
Then the Shepherds consented, and to Bethlehem did go,
And when they came thither, they found it was so.
Refrain
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10. |
I Wonder as I Wander
02:52
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I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky. ————————————————-
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall. ————————————————-
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing, Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
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11. |
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God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satans power, When we were gone astray. —————————————
In Bethlehem, in Jury,
This blessed Babe was born, And laid within a manger, Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn. ————————————
From God our heavenly Father, A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born, The Son of God by name: ———————————-
Fear not, then said the angel, Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of virtue, power, and might; So frequently to vanquish, The friends of Satan quite; ————————————-
The shepherds at those tidings, Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessed Babe to find: ——————————————
But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereas this Infant lay
They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray: ———————————
With sudden joy and gladness The shepherds were beguiled, To see the Babe of Israel, Before His mother mild,
O then with joy and cheerfulnes Rejoice, each mother's child. —————————————
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood, Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas,
Doth bring redeeming grace. ———————————-
God bless the ruler of this house And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred That live both far and near.
//////////////////// (from Warwickshire)
God bless you, merry gentlemen, as you sit by the fire,
And pity us poor travellers that trudges through the mire
God bless your friends, your kindred, that lives both far and near
God send you a happy Christmas and a bright New Year.
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12. |
Oh Holy Night
02:49
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Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name
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13. |
O Come All Ye Faithful
01:55
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O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
-----------------------
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb:
Very God,
Begotten, not created;
O Come........
————————-
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest;
O Come........
————————-
See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps;
O Come........
————————-
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
Child, for us sinners
Poor and in the manger,
We would embrace thee, with love and awe;
Who would not live thee,
Loving us so dearly?
O Come........
————————-
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
O Come........ ————————-
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14. |
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I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
----------------------------------------
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
---------------------------------------
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth, I said,
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
---------------------------------------
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.
--------------------------------------
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
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15. |
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Steafan & Saskia Cobourg, Ontario
Steafan, (Ireland) and Saskia, (England), have performed together for 25+ years. Moorchild is their 1st duo album, playing
all instuments.
Credits include Depeche Mode, Oliver Schroer, Bjork, Loreena Mckinnett, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, AfroCelts, Sin ́E, Uriah Heep,
Steafan wrote "Low Whistle Book" & The "Bodhran Book"
Saskia is 1⁄2 of acoustic-fusion duo “2ish” and the quartet MEDUSA
... more
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